So it seems Montréal wants to host the Commonweath Games in 2014. I think it'd be a great idea for a city in Québec to host it. What does everyone think? Anyone know anything else about it? I couldn't find any stories about it in the Gazette.
___________________________
July 24, 2005
On right track for Games
Commonwealth bid organizers tout city's record
By MICHAEL HAMMOND, Ottawa Sun

ORGANIZERS are hoping Ottawa's track record for hosting large sporting events could help the capital land the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the expected $1.4-billion economic impact.

The city sent a letter to Commonwealth Games Canada Friday, declaring its intention to submit a bid. Ottawa faces stiff competition from Calgary, Halifax, Montreal and Hamilton, which narrowly missed landing the 2010 Games.

Ottawa has already shown it can shine on the world stage, said Pat Reid, of the city's bid committee.

"We just held the Francophone Games (in 2001) and we're hosting the Ontario Summer Games next summer," Reid said. "We have very experienced officials."

CAPITAL PRESTIGE

Ottawa's standing as a national capital could give it an edge over other cities vying for the Canadian bid, he added.

Senators chief operating officer Cyril Leeder, who is also on the bid committee, told the Sun yesterday that Ottawa is the only city of the bid group that has not hosted a major international event on the scale of the Commonwealth Games. That could come into play, he said.

"Some of the intangibles are that we are a capital city and we have not hosted major games," said Leeder.

"All the other cities have these legacy projects."

Canada's chances for hosting the 2014 Games are good, since next year's Games will be in Melbourne, Australia, and the 2010 Games in New Delhi, India, meaning the Games will then shift to this part of the world.

Since London has landed the 2012 Olympics, a Canadian bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games looks promising, Reid said.

"With the Olympics going to London, we shoot pretty close to the top of the list," he said.

Statistics from Hamilton's 2010 Games bid estimate the event will generate $1.4 billion in economic activity. It already has a $400,000 war chest for the 2014 bid.

$500M IN FUNDING

When Hamilton last bid for the Games, the federal and provincial governments pledged a combined $500 million in funding.

Ottawa, if successful, can expect at least that much money if it succeeds in securing the Canadian bid, Reid said.

The Commonwealth Games is the third-largest sporting event in the world. The event features 15 sports and attracts 4,500 athletes, plus 3,000 coaches and technical officials.

Ottawa city council needs to approve the bid.

BIG GAMES, BIG BUCKS

If Ottawa is successful in securing the 2014 Games, the city can expect a number of economic benefits:

- Estimated economic impact of the Games: $1.4 billion

- Expected number of tourists for the Games: 250,000

- Expected number of spectators: 625,000

- Anticipated federal/provincial government support: $500 million

- Direct spending from 2001 Francophone Games: $80 million

michael.hammond@ott.sunpub.com

Montreal mulls bid for 2016 Olympics
WebPosted Sun, 31 Jul 2005 19:08:59 EDT
CBC Sports


Fresh off its successful staging of the world aquatic championships, Montreal is contemplating making a bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

"We'll catch our breath first, but a lot of people ask questions like that," Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay said when asked on Sunday about the 2016 Olympics.

"We'll do a review (of the world championships), we'll think about it and we'll answer that question when the times comes.


FROM JULY 31, 2005: Canada finishes with record 10 world aquatic medals

"I don't exclude anything. On the contrary, watch the last thing I say at the closing ceremony and you'll see the answer to your question is in the affirmative."

If Montreal won the 2016 Games, it would mark the 40th anniversary of the city hosting the 1976 Olympics, an event that ran up an enormous deficit that won't be paid off until 2006.


RELATED: Viewpoint: Poolside at the worlds

Only five cities have ever hosted the Olympics twice: Athens (1986 and 2004), London (1908 and 1948), Stockholm (1912 and 1956), Paris (1900 and 1924) and Los Angeles (1932 and 1984).

Athletes competing at the world aquatic championships seem to support the idea of Montreal hosting the 2016 Games.

"From our experience, coming into Montreal and competing at this venue has been just unreal," said swimmer Rick Say. "Having the Olympics here in the future gets kids excited about sport and I think it's a great commitment by the city of Montreal to sport and its development."

"Having the home crowd here and all the support has really made a difference for us," added swimmer Brittany Reimer. "It's awesome for us."

World aquatic success

The multi-sport world aquatic championships ended on Sunday with Canada capturing 10 medals, the best performance ever since 1978 when the country's athletes won nine.

Canada ended the two-week event with five swimming medals (four silver, one bronze) and four diving medals (three gold, one bronze) to go with a bronze in women's water polo.

All in all, the 15-day event featuring 1,784 athletes from around the world won praise and plaudits, even though organizers announced that 160,000 tickets were sold (they were shooting for 200,000) and that they expect to run at a $4 million deficit.

"I think Montreal and Canada can be proud of what they have accomplished at this event," said Mustapha Larfaoui, president of FINA, the world governing body for aquatic sports.

Mayor Tremblay downplayed the deficit, explaining it represents less than one percent of Montreal's annual budget and that the city can pay it off with funds it sets aside for special events.

Even though the stands were not always full, the competition brought worldwide exposure to the city and unlike the 1976 Montreal Olympics in Montreal, "the taxpayers won't have to pay additional taxes," said Tremblay.

The citizens of Montreal won't let him do this, especially because the debt from the '76 games are finally payed off next year.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, Montreal will never host anouther Olympic games even if it was the only city bidding.

Quebec City could win a future winter games maybe in like 20+ years.

Nuh-uh

I dont think the majority of people would support this.

Never, they didn't even sell there estamated tickets for the swim championships, and they lost money on the championships.

If they can pull off an LA, maybe they could put these facilities to good use.

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3552/23208533040bf57a09b3ig.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/6992/2320854490a49559a1b7xk.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5038/232084778b7e6ed479b6ul.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2244/23208466d5d234ac78b8lq.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2534/23208496fc5b57ba59b6ju.jpg

Maybe the Big Owe wouldn't be such a waste afterall...

In today's Globe:
_________________
Montreal abuzz over idea to host Summer Games
By TU THANH HA
Tuesday, August 2, 2005 Page A2

MONTREAL -- The prospect of the Summer Olympics returning to Montreal with their attending excitement and costs had this city buzzing yesterday after Mayor Gérald Tremblay suggested the idea.

Surprisingly, in phone-in shows and informal media straw polls, not all Montrealers were opposed to the prospect, despite the fact that it will be next spring before Quebec taxpayers finish paying off the $1.5-billion debt left by the construction for Montreal's 1976 Summer Olympics.

But any bid would have to be ready by 2007 and be approved first by the Canadian Olympic Committee, which expects the candidate city to clinch federal and provincial support.

"It'd have to be a team effort," COC head Chris Rudge said. "The COC is not comfortable with anybody blindsiding the federal or provincial governments."

COC vice-president Walter Sieber said a city couldn't realistically prepare a bid without getting a $500-million commitment for government support.

Marc Roy, a spokesman for Prime Minister Paul Martin, and Gaétan Simard, a spokesman for Quebec Sports Minister Jean-Marc Fournier, said yesterday it is too early for their respective governments to express any support for a Montreal bid.

In 1976, the Games actually clinched a surplus of $92-million. The existing debt stems from the rampant construction costs, which were made worse because the mayor of the time, Jean Drapeau, initially eschewed government funding, in the mistaken belief the project could be self-financing.

Mr. Tremblay unveiled his trial balloon Sunday at the end of the highly successful 11th world aquatics championships. "Montreal will not wait another 30 years to renew acquaintances with the world," he said.

A Montreal bid faces several challenges though.

Mr. Rudge noted that the 2016 Games are not expected to go to Europe, which already had Athens in 2004 and London will host in 2012; or Asia, with Sydney in 2000 and Beijing in 2008.

But the Summer Games wouldn't necessarily go to a North American nation either since the International Olympic Committee has been talking about taking them to a new part of the world, such as Africa or Latin America, he said.

Mr. Sieber said because of transport concerns, a host city would have to build an Olympic Village to house 16,000 people close to a main stadium and aquatics complex.

The onetime Olympic Village is now an apartment complex, the Velodrome cycling facility was turned into a natural-sciences centre and the stadium refitted with a permanent roof and geared as a site for fairs and exhibitions.

"I'm happy that Montreal was successful with the aquatics games, but between the aquatics games and the Olympic Games, there's a big step. It's not in the same league," Mr. Sieber said.

i don't think so...i wouldn't want montreal to host it. i think toronto would be a better bet.

What about the 1976 velodrome? Didn't they turn it into a petting zoo or something?

they're going to have to beat out Chicago and I don't think they can with all of Chicago's latest modern developments city wide.

they're going to have to beat out Chicago and I don't think they can with all of Chicago's latest modern developments city wide.

Of all cities, why choose Chicago? NYC was America's 2012 bid and if America's bid is to go through another bid process by the USOC, second to NYC will likely be San Francisco to bid for 2016.

All the atheletes' residences are regular apartments now too, aren't they?

SF was second last time, and I think IF NY were to go ahead, the USOC would still choose SF.

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2534/23208496fc5b57ba59b6ju.jpg

Maybe the Big Owe wouldn't be such a waste afterall...
Why wasn't this venue used for the FINA World Championships?

^ no. they built a new outdoor venue at the site of Expo 67.

Of all cities, why choose Chicago? NYC was America's 2012 bid and if America's bid is to go through another bid process by the USOC, second to NYC will likely be San Francisco to bid for 2016.

San Francisco's 2012 bid plan is impossible to enforce nowadays as Stanford Stadium will downgrade the number of seats according to its own needs. I guess the Palo Alto core of the bid is dead, and still leaves SF with the pesky problem of where to build an Olmypic stadium. Now, if they could replace Candlestick Stadium, they would have a nice bid. Otherwise, Chicago and NYC are more likely to win the hearts of the USOC.

San Francisco's 2012 bid plan is impossible to enforce nowadays as Stanford Stadium will downgrade the number of seats according to its own needs. I guess the Palo Alto core of the bid is dead, and still leaves SF with the pesky problem of where to build an Olmypic stadium. Now, if they could replace Candlestick Stadium, they would have a nice bid. Otherwise, Chicago and NYC are more likely to win the hearts of the USOC.

The main problem with San Francisco is that the facility plan is too dispersed with its "ring of gold" plan. The IOC wants a much more compact plan. The city is certainly capable, it just needs to be more compact.

Regarding the stadium, I'm sure they will figure it out (won't be another NYC 2012 disaster).

forget it, Cape Town will get it, In South Africa if you wonder where it is... lol Not befre 2032, no chance

^ no. they built a new outdoor venue at the site of Expo 67.
I know they built another one, I went to the World Championship.

My Question was WHY did they build a new pool when there appears to be a good one at the Olympic Stadium?

I know they built another one, I went to the World Championship.

My Question was WHY did they build a new pool when there appears to be a good one at the Olympic Stadium?

Probably because of seating capacity. In that photo of the Olympic Aquatic Centre, the area on the opposite of that grand stand used to be seats but they were temporary, removed after 1976. Not enough seats for FIFA.

If they win the bid... Do they use the old stadium again? NOOOO... they should built a more futuristic one... like the one here in London for 2012 :D

No way, the Big O needs to be reused in an Olympic Bid. It's just got to!

Probably because of seating capacity. In that photo of the Olympic Aquatic Centre, the area on the opposite of that grand stand used to be seats but they were temporary, removed after 1976. Not enough seats for FIFA.
Surely it would have been cheaper to add a few thousand seats to an already existing pool, than to build 4 new pools on ile st. Helene and dismantle 2 of them after the event.

There is obviously more to this than meets the eye.

Montreal has only a handful of venues for an Olympic bid:

The Olympic Basin
Olympic Pool, 3000
Stade Olympique-65000
Arena Maurice Richard-5000
Bell Centre-21300
Stade Uniprix-12000
Molson Stadium-25000
Saputo Stadium-25000

Montreal needs to build more sports venues in order to host an Olympics.

Surely it would have been cheaper to add a few thousand seats to an already existing pool, than to build 4 new pools on ile st. Helene and dismantle 2 of them after the event.

There is obviously more to this than meets the eye.

The problem with Fina world aquatic championships is you have an austrian based international sports body that has a false vision of what their sports are in the world and their demands are outragous.
There is no demand for the sports in north america like FINA would beleive and demand facilities for . They pulled the Hostiing rights from Montreal in the 10 th hour and tried to relocate them to Long Beach. They figured the city of Long Beach
as a bidder for the 2005 championships would be leaping at the opporunity to host something they lost to montreal. Long Beach turned Fina down citing that city council would not be very receptive to hosting the Fina Show when long Beach had lost money on the United States Aquatic olympic tirals for the 2004 athens games. Fina had to come back to montreal after they were turned down by Long beach.
Melbourne Australia is experiencing Fina demands for renovating the 65 million dollar aquatic centre that was used for the commonwealth games. 1.5 million in renovations are needed according to Fina for the world aquatic championships next year to be hosted by melbourne.

Fina in north america has a history of blackmailing cities like montreal . They did the same thing with Edmonton in 2001.

there will never be an olympics in montreal not only because of the citizens but also because of the embrassment for the olympic movement internationally. The fallout of Montreal resulted in the IOC having the federal governments of countries signing on the dotted line their commitments for all olympics. Pierre Trudeau refused funding the summer olympics in montreal directly.
The city of montreal is also not going to get funding this time from the province in light of the mayors refusal to take over the olympic Park facilities from the province. The province annually is on the hook for 20 million a year from the olympic park installation board. Another 6 million per year for the next 40 years is required for the lastest version of the fabric roof on the olympic stadium. Jean Charest is looking to possible funding of facilites for a winter olympics in quebec with the special tabacco tax of 81 million annually that was used to pay off the summer 1976 games debt. Jean Charest it seems would like to unload the 26 million that special tax onto the backs of montreal taxpayers.

I think you would see scenes of the french revolution in montreal if the council dare to entertain the bid. Public floggings in front of the Place De Arts would be the order of the day.

Jim jones

^^ french revolution? Freak.

Pffff. The city finished off paying the 76 games earlier this year.

Another succesful bid would turn this city into a shanty town.

I don't think the people of Montreal will appreciate another bid given the financial disaster that lingered from the last one. Besides, it's unlikely the Games will return to Canada any time soon given its small population and multiple hostings.

It was actually just the Olympic Stadium that they've just paid off, but even that is quite ridiculous. I don't think a bid will be credible from Montreal (or any Canadian city) till at least 2020 if not 2024 (and that's only if a US city doesn't get the 2016 games).

Montreal has zero chance of hosting the 2016 Olympics, considering that Canada will have hosted the Olympics only 6 years earlier. The IOC won't let any country host the Olympics that close together, not even the United States. I think Toronto has no chance at the 2016 Olympics as well because of this.

New York City won't get the 2016 Olympics because they are not bidding. Five cities will bid for the American nomination: Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Montreal has only a handful of venues for an Olympic bid:

The Olympic Basin
Olympic Pool, 3000
Stade Olympique-65000
Arena Maurice Richard-5000
Bell Centre-21300
Stade Uniprix-12000
Molson Stadium-25000
Saputo Stadium-25000

Montreal needs to build more sports venues in order to host an Olympics.

Like What?

2016 is just way too close for Montréal.


Montréal were gigantic olympics relativly speaking with huge spendings on security that were not budgeted initialy (due to munich 72).

Rogge explained in a recent interview that all the games before '84 didn't have the huge TV contracts and sponsorships that the CIO has now.

Nowadays, the CIO pays 50% to the host city for its operating costs, which was unheard of in '76.

While the operation costs of the games in Montréal were on budget, the building costs exploded due to scare tactics by unions and corruption. Still, the organisation of the games were perfect and the best ever in their time.

Rogge concludes that in his mind, there's absolutely no doubt that Montréal could do it again given Montréal impressive track record in organizing the games.



Le 12 juillet 2006 - 18:49
Jacques Rogge croit que Montréal pourrait obtenir à nouveau des Jeux
Presse Canadienne
_
Au 30e anniversaire des Jeux olympiques de Montréal, le président du Comité international olympique, Jacques Rogge, affirme que Montréal pourrait très bien présenter une candidature crédible pour la tenue d'autres Jeux.

M. Rogge fait valoir que les leçons tirées de l'expérience montréalaise ont permis l'élaboration d'un nouveau modèle qui rend presque impossible la répétition des problèmes rencontrés par la métropole.

Ainsi, le CIO assume maintenant la moitié du budget opérationnel des comités organisateurs, sommes qui ont atteint 1 milliard $ (US) pour Athènes et 500 millions $ (US) pour Turin et s'occupe de trouver les commanditaires et de conclure les ententes entourant les droits de télévision. De plus, le CIO a une politique de proximité afin de suivre de près les comités organisateurs durant la préparation de l'événement. Enfin, l'organisme applique également une politique d'héritage urbain pour éviter l'érection d'installations olympiques grandioses qui ne seraient plus que des éléphants blancs après les Jeux.

M. Rogge, qui a participé aux Jeux de Montréal comme athlète, refuse d'ailleurs de voir ces Jeux comme un échec ou comme une série d'erreurs. Il note qu'au contraire, sur le strict plan de l'organisation, les Jeux de Montréal ont été exceptionnels. Il rappelle aussi que ces jeux se sont déroulés dans une période extrêmement trouble et qu'il a fallu, par exemple, réinventer toute la sécurité après les Jeux de Munich en 1972 qui avaient été la cible de terroristes.

Au même moment, le monde sportif était en pleine crise, les pays africains ayant décidé de boycotter Montréal et les soupçons de dopage, visant notamment l'Allemagne de l'Est, n'étaient encore que des soupçons qui minaient la crédibilité de l'olympisme. Quant à l'aspect financier, il souligne que Montréal n'avait pu bénéficier des moyens considérables dont dispose maintenant le CIO, de l'argent des commanditaires et de celui issu de la vente des droits de télévision.

Dans son esprit, avec le modèle actuel, Montréal aurait tous les atouts pour recommencer l'aventure, en raison de sa taille, son expertise et le fait que la ville a déjà prouvé qu'elle pouvait très bien organiser des Jeux olympiques.

Bad idea to organize the OG even in the future.
Another major events like the World Championship Atletics or a new world exhibition would be better I guess.

I would obviously favor Toronto because I'm from there and other reasons, but if Montreal has a better chance than I would back them up!

There ain't no way I am going to see another Olympics in Montreal because I'd rather have the city host a Pan American Games or a Commonwealth Games.

The Montreal and Los Angeles Olympics were big failiurs, both cities really need to make to prove this time, that they actually have the financial back up to host the games.

The Montreal and Los Angeles Olympics were big failiurs, both cities really need to make to prove this time, that they actually have the financial back up to host the games.

Are you on drugs? The Los Angeles Olympics are one of the most successful in history. In fact, it was the games that stopped the decline in the Olympic movement. Check your facts again buddy.

Montreal also had many positives, financially it was a disaster for the city and the less we talk about it the better.

220 million US in profits and Peter Uberboff's guidance to Commerical Partnership for the Los Angeles 1984 games actually saved the Olympics. You would not being seeing a London 2012 with a
LLoyds of London putting 80 million into the games if it wasn't for Peter Uberboff.

What you have today with cost overruns in the billions before any real work is done is simple Kanyansan Socialist Economics gone out of control in old london town. London will probably do more to damage sports festivals world wide then help it. British society has a history of business failure and a declining importance in the world.

OH and someone said about no two olympics within six years in the same country. Not true especially in america. Atlanta 1996, Salt Lake City 2002
Lake Placid 1980 Los Angeles 1984. it would probably not happen in montreal case because the IOC wants to visit other territories such as countries of Muslim faith, a South American country and an African Country

JIM JONES WINS !!!!!!!!

There is precedent for one country holding Olympics close together. Lake Placid, USA 1980 then Los Angeles, USA 1984, then again Atlanta 1996.

2010 and 2016 would be abit too close, but it has happened before. The IOC would probably prefer Toronto to host if it went to Canada since Toronto has now bid and lost twice, and Toronto would be a new host city.

If Montreal decided to run, I'd be 100% behind that, however. As far as a Commonwealth Games bid goes, Montreal would make a very interesting choice. It would be the first French speaking city to host. The Commonwealth Games might need a name revision. It still has too many anglo suggestions even though this event has moved well beyond that.

Were the venues for the 2005 FINA World Aquatics Championships on Saint Helen's island temporary?

no they're not temp., actually they're open to the public.

If they can pull off an LA, maybe they could put these facilities to good use.

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3552/23208533040bf57a09b3ig.jpg


WOW!


You have no idea where my mind just went...lol

esta full bacano muy chevere esta muy coll

i think it's still a bit too early, but perhaps in 2020 or 2024? I tihnk they could also re-use the stadium, move the biodome (which is in the velodrome) beside the Jardin botanique (make it twice as big also!) and we should be ready.

i think it's still a bit too early, but perhaps in 2020 or 2024? I tihnk they could also re-use the stadium, move the biodome (which is in the velodrome) beside the Jardin botanique (make it twice as big also!) and we should be ready.

yeah, definitely 2024